HNT # 27 ... The Mad Organizational Skills Edition
What is it with my luck? I think the Gods have a vendetta against me or something. You know I'm on vacation and I have spent the past few days cleaning and organizing my garage. Mission accomplished! Here is the proof:
On the down side, blogger was an ass this week and so I was locked out for a while. Well, that finally got straightened out (about three hours ago) so I can blog again. YAY ME! I have decided to switch from Blogger to Moveable Type as a publisher and that will entail some changes to the Darkside. I am cool with that and hope you are too. One thing that will not change is the rapier sharp writing and that sharp sense of humor you have come to know and love.
So the garage is done but I started feeling a little stuffy this past weekend. That stuffyness has since blown up into a full blown chest cold! I mean WTF? Did I step on a crack and break my momma's back? Did I rip off my freaking mattress tags? Did I throw away a recycleable bottle or something? I don't know!
There is a song by Van Zandt that says "If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans." God must have overheard when I was talking to one of you and thought I was addressing Him. "Hee Haw" used to feature a skit that said "If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all. Gloom, despair and agony on me!" I know what you mean fellas! But enough bitching. On with the HNT.
Tonight's HNT starts with a trip in the wayback machine. Hands inside the car and fasten your seatbelts folks ...
I spent my first three high school years in Anchorage, Alaska. The guy you see standing beside me (I am on the left ... yes that's my real effin hair! It was the 70's, so suck me already?) was my best friend, Greg. I am ashamed to say I don't remember his last name. We did a ton of shit together ... some of it actually legal ... some of it. The best times I remember were skiing down the five-mile trail with him , blowing a doobie as we watched the sun go down over Cook Inlet while waiting for the bus to take us back to the top. They were magical times and I miss them dearly. But hey, at least I have the memories (and a better haircut!) Damn, look at how small my ass was back then! Those were the days, baby.
I guess I should have titled this "The best friends edition" because that's what this is turning into. This dog was more my baby than my friend. Her name was Dinky. A little background ... you see, I have never been able to really get close to people in my life. I have a lot of acquaintances but very few real friend. Those I do consider real friends know I would lay my life down for them ... seriously, like taking a bullet while tackling a mugger, shoving them out from in front of a speeding truck or throwing myself on top of a grenade for them. I just don't have that many people I feel that way about.
I lived in the country when this picture was taken. I ran over a puppy one day. A very small puppy that had no business being in the road unattended so far from the house. I got Dinky to replace that puppy but was convinced that I should just keep her instead. "What if that other dog was a purebred? Would a mutt replace that?" I was asked. I kept her. I trained her, slept with her (get your effin minds out of the gutter. I'm kinky but bestiality? No effin thanks!), took her to the vet, fishing, swimming and anywhere else I went. She was trained not to leave the yard even though it had no fence and she never, ever did. We could open the door and let her out with no worries.
I remember giving her the backbone from the first deer I killed and following her around my bedroom later that night cleaning up the diahrea it gave her. I woke up early one morning to the sounds of her in pain and spent the rest of the night following her around as she gave birth to a litter of pups.
She was my life and it tore me up when I joined the Air Force and had to leave her behind for Germany. While I was gone, my sister got in a pissing contest with one of her friends. I later found out my parents had let Dinky out for her final "constitutional" of the evening. It was at that opportune time that the former friend was driving by, saw her in the yard and ran off the road, into my fucking yard, and ran her down. She didn't die but was beyond medical help. My dad, tears in his eyes, gathered her up and relieved her of her suffering the way we do that it in the country. I will never have a dog that means as much to me nor would I want one. Dinky, I love you babe. RIP.
Sorry to get so maudlin folks but I just found the picture today and it ripped my heart out of my chest thinking about it. HHNT to you all. Next post will be more uplifting, I promise.
Go see Os to get the whole HNT story. Lets get Nekkid, Ya'll
Comments
Hey I went to skool in ALaska too TOmmy! Wowee that was a foxy hairdo baby!
Well, I hope you have better luck with this blogger format....it looks nice!
Was trying to figure out whats on TV behind you in that picture....Oprah? LOL
HHNT Tommy!
Posted by: Susie | May 10, 2006 9:48 PM
i'm so pleased you liked your special hnt from me. how could i not do it for ya, hon?
i am all over god's sense ofhumor....see past pics of me with cast....ack.
this is such a great hnt, big guy. you've bared a bit of your soul which is sometimes harder to bare than skin.
oh and btw, wider or narrow ass matters not. you're all man, you've got a way with words and eyes that shine with life, a smile that could melt the ice caps, and a big heart. you are one fine man....mwah!
HHNT
Posted by: lime | May 10, 2006 9:57 PM
umm...i was born in 1978... :)
just sayin
peace...
Posted by: Monkey | May 10, 2006 10:27 PM
Like the new site...
It's great seeing pics from the old days. I had fun posting some of mine months ago. Hard to imagine all the hair we used to have, isn't it? Hey, where was the beard?
Good job on the garage!
Posted by: chuck | May 10, 2006 10:28 PM
What a great tribute of an HNT. I really love seeing the pictures and feeling like I'm there. I'm also a dog person myself...sooo, you had me bawlin'. Seriously, if you wanted one bad enough and would come get it... I think my mom would give you a basset pup... :-) There will never be another Dinky but I know your heart.
Love you Tommy darling....
Posted by: Blondie | May 10, 2006 10:35 PM
Oh, I will play! :)
Great pictures!
Happy HNT!
Posted by: Lee Ann | May 10, 2006 10:42 PM
I'd love to play twister!! Fun post :)
Posted by: Crimson | May 10, 2006 10:45 PM
Sexy hair Tommy!!!
Sad story though...sometimes it's good to remember though...even the bad stuff!
Happy reflective HNT!
Posted by: The Melody Censor | May 10, 2006 10:50 PM
HHNT, Tommy! Hoping you are feeling better soon:)
Posted by: sandi | May 10, 2006 10:54 PM
Great shots of you, T! And... my garage is also going through a makeover. Cheers and Happy HNT!
Posted by: lecram | May 10, 2006 11:03 PM
That is some hair for singing the high notes. I am so glad I missed that era...
Posted by: Claire | May 10, 2006 11:52 PM
may i borrow your vacation skills for my closets??
and dinky was adorable.
happy hnt!
Posted by: grody jo-dee | May 11, 2006 12:52 AM
Hey babe............ loved your post today.
Posted by: Wenchy | May 11, 2006 4:51 AM
Great shots Tommy but did you have to take us back to the 70's. Most people are trying to forget them. Lol.
Happy HNT sweetie ;)
Posted by: Suze | May 11, 2006 4:57 AM
I just loved the 70's!!
Great shots:-}
Posted by: steve | May 11, 2006 5:57 AM
I came here via Lime's blog, looking for a taste review of your Caribbean Lime Lager.
I'm on my tenth brew, and wouldn't want to go back to drinking manufactured beer.
HHNT.
Posted by: robmcj | May 11, 2006 6:06 AM
No comment on the hair. =) But I'm sure glad you moved along with the times. And that's so sad about Dinky. I hope you beat the guy's ass that did it. Many times.
HHNT, TG!
Posted by: betchacantguesswho | May 11, 2006 8:39 AM
Heh. In 1978, I was ummmm....4.
Posted by: Queen of Ass | May 11, 2006 8:41 AM
HHNT! Great shots, I unfortunatly wasn't even thought of when the first one was taken as i was born in '80. "blush"
but have a great one.
Posted by: Evalee | May 11, 2006 11:07 AM
love the pictures!
that story about your dog... just so sad. someone needs to hunt her down and give her a taste of her own medicine. grrrr
Posted by: Leen | May 11, 2006 11:11 AM
I love the older pics. HHNT!
Posted by: Mike | May 11, 2006 11:35 AM
*IS* there anything better than Twister and Jello? I think not.
Lovely photos...nothing more endearing than a man and his dog ;-)
Posted by: Becca | May 11, 2006 11:45 AM
nice vintage pics! HHNT!
Posted by: solitaire | May 11, 2006 12:47 PM
Wow, that's a lot of HNT...
First jello and twister, will there be alcohol involved?? If so, I'm in.
Next, dude, your friends hot...lmao...
And lastly, it's so funny but the "look" of those old "70's" pics is so familiar, isn't that weird how they all look the same, I feel like "dejavu"
HHNT!
Posted by: MG | May 11, 2006 12:56 PM
Ohhh baby baby!!!! Love the look back then..hehe mmm mmm mmm hehe
HHNT darlin! ;)
Posted by: chelle | May 11, 2006 1:24 PM
I do so love the "circa" pics.
Posted by: charlotte | May 11, 2006 3:19 PM
I do so love the "circa" pics.
Posted by: charlotte | May 11, 2006 3:19 PM
Great HNT!
Memory lane.
Think I'll do that soon too.
I loved Lime's HNT for you.
What a sweetheart!
HHNT!
Posted by: Tricia | May 11, 2006 5:02 PM
Love the old hairdo, and as for the sad memory, I'll be cracking a beer in just a moment and drinking one in honour of memories of your loved pet.
Posted by: Mark Leslie | May 11, 2006 9:54 PM
aw man..this broke my heart, and made me cry like it was my dog. I would hug you right now if I could, your wife be damned(not literally, figuratively on the wife thing). Your a softie..who knew?
I always figured you were. HHNT darlin'
Posted by: Dusty | May 12, 2006 12:04 AM
cool post!!!
Posted by: jodes | May 12, 2006 9:38 AM
nice merm! aha ha ha!`
i wouldnt be me if i had let that one slide.
Posted by: bricotrout | May 12, 2006 1:04 PM
Those pictures are hilarious! I'm a bit behind on the HNT circuit this week...Happy HNT
Posted by: moosekahl | May 14, 2006 6:28 PM
WHOA!
I think that is the cleanest garage I have ever seen!!
Happy (b-lated) HNT
Posted by: Shay | May 16, 2006 10:42 PM